Austin, Texas | February 7, 2025 – OpenAI is expanding its Stargate AI data center project, backed by SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI, with an initial $100 billion investment. Texas is a leading contender, with Abilene already hosting the first facility. The initiative aims to strengthen U.S. AI leadership amid rising competition from China’s DeepSeek, which challenges the need for large-scale computing.
OpenAI’s Chris Lehane warned that the global AI race will shape whether AI remains open or controlled. DeepSeek’s rise has caused Nvidia’s stock to drop by $593 billion in a single day. Meanwhile, 16 U.S. states are competing to host Stargate data centers, ensuring America stays at the forefront of AI innovation.
